Fuse



March 22, 1955 J-. c. MANGA FUSE Filed Dec. 7, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheec 1 Joseph 6. Manga INVENTOR.

March 22, 1955 J. c. MANGA FUSE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 7, 1953 Joseph 6. Manga INVENTOR.

BY -May,

United States Patent FUSE Joseph C. Manga, Long Beach, Calif.

Application December 7, 1953, Serial No. 396,371

6 Claims. (Cl. 200-125) This invention relates to a novel fuse and has for its primary object the provision of means for conveniently connecting successive fuse elements into the circuit so that when one is burned out another one will be available to take its place without inserting a new plug.

Another object of this invention resides in the arrangement of means for permitting the escape of the gases of fusion formed when one of the links is burned out.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a fuse plug that employs novel means for locking the successive fuse links in electrical contact with the component elements of the plug so that the parts can be so arranged as to space the fuse links in such a manner as to avoid the shorting cross from fuse link to fuse link. This construction of parts includes a fuse link carrier having a plurality of annularly spaced fins attached to a member and further includes a washer of insulative material through which the contact member which engages the fuse links extends.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of a fuse having multiple fuse links that is strong and durable, simple in construction and manufacture, capable of being readily utilized in any convenient outlet socket for fuses, which is capable of being manufactured inexpensively of various ratings of amperage and voltage and which is so constructed as to enable the ready replacement of many of the parts thereof.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this fuse, a preferred embodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings by way of example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the fuse comprising the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of this fuse;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the parting piece comprising one of the important elements of the invention;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along the plane of line 5--5 of Figure 4 and illustrating the construction of the spring contact used to engage successively the multiple fuse links;

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the various elements of the invention; and

Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the arrangement of parts between the plug body and the carrier for preventing relative rotation therebetween.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various figures, reference numeral 10 generally designates the fuse comprising the present invention which includes a plug body 12 of an insulative material which has secured thereto a threaded shell 14 provided with an upper flange portion 16 adapted to overlie the upper surface of the plug body 12 and abut against the boss 18 of the plug body 12.

There is also provided a parting piece 20 which is ribbed, knurled or otherwise shaped on the cylindrical outer surfaces as at 22 so that it may be readily grasped for rotation thereof. An indicator 24 is attached to the parting piece 20. An upper cavity 26 as well as a lower cavity 28 are formed in the parting piece 20 and a central bore or aperture 30 extends therethrough. Mounted in the parting piece 20 as can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, is a spring contact member 32 extending through the web 2,704,796 Patented Mar. 22, 1955 34 between the cavities 26 and 28, the ends of the spring contact 32 being adapted to be lifted into depressions 36 and 38 formed in the web 34 in a manner to be henceforth explained.

The boss 18 extends about half-way up into the aperture 380 in the parting piece 20 as can be seen best in Figure A fuse carrier 40 is provided and has a boss 42 extending downward and into engagement with the boss 18 in the aperture 30 as seen in Figure 7. The carrier 40 includes a spindle 44 mounted on a disk 46. A plurality of fins 48 are integrally formed with the disk 46 and the spindle 44 and extend upwardly thereabout. The upper edges of the fins 48 are wedge-shaped as at 50. Figure 6, for engagement within the V-shaped interstices as at 52 between the separate fuse links 54 which are con nected to a central portion 56 of the fusible element generally indicated as at 58. The boss 42 is provided with a recess 60 therein in which a tongue 62 integrally formed on the boss 18 is adapted to extend to lock the body 12 and the carrier 40 against relative rotation. It is to be recognized that other means can be utilized for so locking these members.

Positioned between the parting member 20 and the carrier 40 is a washer 64 of insulative material having spaced holes 66 therethrough and notches 68 annualarly spaced about the peripheral edge thereof. The notches 68 are adapted to align with notches 70 formed in the disk 46 of the carrier 40 though the notches 68 are not quite as deep as the notches 70.

The fusible member 58 including the separate fusible links 54 is mounted over the carrier 40 with the fusible links 54 provided with weakened portions as at 72, see Figure 6, in the upper portions thereof and substantially L-shaped flanges as at 74 depending therefrom and adapted to pass through the notches 70 in the carrier 40 so as to overlie the holes 66. The contact 32 is adapted to extend upwardly and through the holes 66 to engage the horizontal portions of the L-shaped flanges 74 of the fusible links 54.

The carrier 40 is received within the cavity 26 and a rivet 76 or the like provided with a contact head 78 at one end and a retaining portion 80 at the other end extends through a central bore in the plug body 12, the aperture 30 and through a central bore in the washer 64 as at 82, a central aperture 84 in the carrier 40 and an aperture 86 in the central portion 56 of the fusible member 58. The carrier 40 is provided with a groove or recess 88 in one of the fins 48 into which a tongue or key 90 mounted on a cap 92 can extend. The cap 92 is positioned in overlying relationship relative to the carrier 40 and the fusible member 58 and may be made of a transparent insulative material. Spaced ribs 94 are provided on the cap or dome 92 so that the dome may be readily rotated. This dome-like member may be provided with suitable indicia underlying each of the ribs indicating the numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and indicia indicating that the fuse should be replaced with the key 90 holding the dome-like housing 92 so that the ribs 92 are in alignment with the respective fusible links 54.

It is to be noted that the cylindrical outer side walls 96 of the housing 92 are inwardly spaced from the inner side walls 100 of the parting piece 20 formed by the cavity 26. This assures that the gases formed from the burning of the fusible link 54 can pass through the aligned slots 68 and 70 upwardly through this space between the housing 92 and the parting piece 20.

The operation of this device is quite simple. The parting piece 20 is rotated in a clockwise direction to the indicator 24, and is aligned with one of the fusible links under the indicia 1. The fuse is then screwed into the socket of the fuse plug using the ribs 94 as grips. If a blow-out of the fuse link results due to a short or overload the chamber or cell 102 formed by the fins 48 are blackened thus at a glance indicating that the particular fuse link is burned out. By rotating the parting piece 20 clockwise the number 2 cell is put into play. The user will hear a click when the next link is engaged by the contact spring 32 and the indicator will also point to the next number. This process is repeated after each blow-out until the indicator hits the indicia indicating that the fuse must be renewed and after the blow-out of that fuse link occurs the fuse must be replaced by renewing the entire fuse assembly.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A fuse comprising an insulative plug body having a threaded conductive shell aflixed thereto, an insulative parting piece rotatable relative to said plug body, a conductive contact member carried by said parting piece in electrical contact with said shell, an insulative carrier, an electrically conductive fusible member having a center portion from which a plurality of radially extending fuse links extend, said fuse links having flange portions engageable by said contact member, an insulative housing overlying said fusible member and keyed to said carrier, and an electrically conductive rivet extending through said plug body, said carrier, said parting piece and said center portion of said fusible member holding the component elements of the fuse together, said rivet having a head portion extending outwardly from said plug body and spaced from said shell, said parting piece having upper and lower cavities therein, said plug body being seated in said lower cavity, said carrier and said housing extending into said upper cavity, said parting piece having a central aperture therethrough, said plug body and said carrier having bosses extending into said central aperture in said parting piece, and means on said bosses interlocking said bosses against relative rotation, the outer side walls of said housing being spaced inwardly from the inner side walls of said parting piece formed by said upper cavity.

2. A fuse comprising an insulative plug body having a threaded conductive shell aflixed thereto, an insulative parting piece rotatable relative to said plug body, a conductive contact member carried by said parting piece in electrical contact with said shell, an insulative carrier, an electrically conductive fusible member having a center portion from which a plurality of radially extending fuse links extend, said fuse links having flange portions cn gageable by said contact member, an insulative housing overlying said fusible member and keyed to said carrier,

and an electrically conductive rivet extending through said plug body, said carrier, said parting piece and said center portion of said fusible member holding the component elements of the fuse together, said rivet having a head portion extending outwardly from said plug body and spaced from said shell, a washer having annularly spaced holes therethrough between said parting piece and said carrier, said contact member extending through one of said holes to engage one of said fuse links.

3. A fuse comprising an insulative plug body having a threaded conductive shell aflixed thereto, an insulative parting piece rotatable relative to said plug body, a conductive contact member carried by said parting piece in electrical contact with said shell, an insulative carrier, an electrically conductive fusible member having a center portion from which a plurality of radially extending fuse links extend, said fuse links having flange portions engageable by said contact member, an insulative housing overlying said fusible member and keyed to said carrier, and an electrically conductive rivet extending through said plug body, said carrier, said parting piece and said center portion of said fusible member holding the component elements of the fuse together, said rivet having a head portion extending outwardly from said plug body and spaced from said shell, said parting piece having upper and lower cavities therein, said plug body being seated in said lower cavity, said carrier and said housing extending into said upper cavity, said parting piece having a central aperture therethrough, said plug body and said carrier having bosses extending into said central aperture in said parting piece, and means on said bosses interlocking said bosses against relative rotation, the outer side walls of said housing being spaced inwardly from the inner sidewalls of said parting piece formed by said upper cavity, a washer having annularly spaced holes therethrough between said parting piece and said carrier, said contact member extending through one of said holes to engage one of said fuse links.

4. A fuse comprising an insulative plug body having a threaded conductive shell affixed thereto, an insulative parting piece rotatable relative to said plug body, a conductive contact member carried by said parting piece in electrical contact with said shell, an insulative carrier, an electrically conductive fusible member having a center portion from which a plurality of radially extending fuse links extend, said fuse links having flange portions engageable by said contact member, an insulative housing overlying said fusible member and keyed to said carrier, and an electrically conductive rivet extending through said plug body, said carrier, said parting piece and said center portion of said fusible member holding the component elements of the fuse together, said rivet having a head portion extending outwardly from said plug body and spaced from said shell, said parting piece having upper and lower cavities therein, said plug body being seated in said lower cavity, said carrier and said housing extending into said upper cavity, said parting piece having a central aperture therethrough, said plug body and said carrier having bosses extending into said central aperture in said parting piece, and means on said bosses interlocking said bosses against relative rotation, the outer side walls of said housing being spaced inwardly from the inner side walls of said parting piece formed by said upper cavity, a washer having annularly spaced holes therethrough between said parting piece and said carrier, said contact member extending through one of said holes to engage one of said fuse links, said carrier and said washer having spaced aligned notches therein, said notches communicating with the space between the said outer side walls of said housing and the inner side walls of said parting piece to define a venting passageway for gases formed during fusion of one of said links.

5. A fuse comprising an insulative plug body having a threaded conductive shell aflixed thereto, an insulative parting piece rotatable relative to said plug body, a conductive contact member carried by said parting piece in electrical contact with said shell, an insulative carrier, an electrically conductive fusible member having a center portion from which a plurality of radially extending fuse links extend, said fuse links having flange portions engageable by said contact member, an insulative housing overlying said fusible member and keyed to said carrier, and an electrically conductive rivet extending through said plug body, said carrier, said parting piece and said center portion of said fusible member holding the com ponent elements of the fuse together, said rivet having a head portion extending outwardly from said plug body and spaced from said shell, said carrier having a central spindle provided with annularly spaced fins, said fins extending above said spindle to form a central hollow for reception of the center portion of said fusible member.

6. A fuse comprising an insulative plug body having a threaded conductive shell afiixed thereto, an insulative parting piece rotatable relative to said plug body, a conductive contact member carried by said parting piece in electrical contact with said shell, an insulative carrier, an electrically conductive fusible member having a center portion from which a plurality of radially extending fuse links extend, said fuse links having flange portions engageable by said contact member, an insulative housing overlying said fusible member and keyed to said carrier, and an electrically conductive rivet extending through said plug body, said carrier, said parting piece and said center portion of said fusible member holding the component elements of the fuse together, said rivet having a head portion extending outwardly from said plug body and spaced from said shell, said parting piece having upper and lower cavities therein, said plug body being seated in said lower cavity, said carrier and said housing extending into said upper cavity, said parting piece having a central aperture therethrough, said plug body and said carrier having bosses extending into said central aperture in said parting piece, and means on said bosses interlocking said bosses against relative rotation, the outer side walls of said housing being spaced inwardly from the inner side walls of said parting piece formed by said upper cavity, a Washer having annularly spaced holes therethrough between said parting piece and said carrier, said contact member extending through one of said holes to engage one of said fuse links, said carrier and1 said l{washer having spaced flaligned HOICIEICS theriihn, References Cited in the file of this patent sai notc es communicating wi e space etween e said outer side walls of said housing and the inner side UNITED STATES PATENTS walls of said parting piece to define a venting passage- 1,886,299 ONeil Nov. 1, 1932 way for gases formed during fusion of one of said links, 5 2,071,934 Moss et al. Feb. 23, 1937 said carrier having a central spindle provided with annu- 2,106,109 Prendergast Jan. 18, 1938 larly spaced fins, said fins extending above said spindle to form a central hollow for reception of the center portion of said fusible member, said links extending through the notches in said carrier. 10 

